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Durga Ashtami is observed on the 8th day of Navratri (Ashwin/Chaitra Shukla Ashtami). The Sandhi Puja — the most sacred moment — occurs during the junction (sandhi) of Ashtami and Navami tithi. Daily worship is done during Madhyahna (midday).
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Rise early, bathe, and wear clean red or orange clothes. Prepare the puja area with fresh flowers and clean the Durga idol. Arrange havan samagri, food offerings, and gifts for Kanya Puja.
Take the sankalpa with water and akshat. Perform the 16-step (Shodashopachara) puja of Goddess Durga: Avahana (invocation), Asana, Padya, Arghya, Achamaniya, Snana, Vastra, Gandha, Pushpa, Dhupa, Deepa, Naivedya, Tambula, Dakshina, Aarti, Pradakshina.
Invite 9 young girls (ages 2-10) representing the 9 forms of Durga: Kumarika (2), Trimurti (3), Kalyani (4), Rohini (5), Kali (6), Chandika (7), Shambhavi (8), Durga (9), Subhadra (10). Wash their feet, apply tilak, offer food (halwa-puri-chana), new clothes, and dakshina.
The most important ritual of Maha Ashtami. Perform this puja during the exact junction (sandhi kaal) when Ashtami tithi ends and Navami begins — typically a 48-minute window (24 minutes before and after the sandhi moment). Offer 108 lotuses and 108 lamps. Recite the Chamunda mantra.
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे। जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी। दुर्गा क्षमा शिवा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तु ते॥
oṃ aiṃ hrīṃ klīṃ cāmuṇḍāyai vicce | jayantī maṅgalā kālī bhadrakālī kapālinī | durgā kṣamā śivā dhātrī svāhā svadhā namo'stu te ||
Om, with Aim, Hrim, Klim, I invoke Chamunda. Victory-giver, auspicious Kali, Bhadrakali, skull-bearer, Durga, the forgiving, Shiva, the sustainer — Svaha, Svadha, salutations to you.
Perform Astra Puja — worship of weapons and tools. In the Durga tradition, this symbolizes the divine weapons given to Durga by the Devas. Place household tools, professional instruments, or symbolic weapons before the Goddess and worship them with flowers and kumkum.
Prepare the havan kund (fire pit). Light the sacred fire and offer ghee, havan samagri, and sesame seeds while chanting the Durga Ashtami mantra and Durga Saptashati verses. Make 108 offerings (ahutis) into the fire.
ॐ देवी दुर्गायै नमः। या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
oṃ devī durgāyai namaḥ | yā devī sarvabhūteṣu śaktirūpeṇa saṃsthitā | namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ ||
Om, salutations to Goddess Durga. The Goddess who resides in all beings in the form of power (Shakti) — I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her again and again.
Perform the Durga Aarti with ghee lamp, camphor, and bell. Distribute the prasad (halwa-puri-chana) to all devotees. If fasting, break the fast after the aarti with the sanctified food.